NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Sport / League / Warriors

David Skipwith: Thomas Leuluai one of the Warriors toughest competitors

David Skipwith
By David Skipwith
Reporter·Herald online·
4 Jul, 2016 02:58 AM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Versatile Warriors veteran Thomas Leuluai will be remembered for his fearless and direct playing style. Photo / Getty Images.

Versatile Warriors veteran Thomas Leuluai will be remembered for his fearless and direct playing style. Photo / Getty Images.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Much about the Warriors is defined by their proud history of attacking players but departing utility Thomas Leuluai will long be remembered as one of the club's toughest competitors.

The Warriors have always possessed a wealth of homegrown talent, boasting a seemingly endless list of individually brilliant players, but for much of their 21-year history have found locally produced hard-nosed professionals harder to come by.

In the same manner as former club captain Simon Mannering, Leuluai has filled that role, particularly throughout his second stint which began in 2013 following eight seasons in the English Super League.

The 31-year-old may have been limited to just 77 Warriors appearances in comparison to the 250 game veteran, but his influence and experience will be sorely missed when he exits at the end of the NRL season, after being granted a release from the last year of his contract on compassionate grounds to make a return to England.

Leuluai celebrates the Kiwis 2008 World Cup final win over Australia with teammates Greg Eastwood, Benji Marshall and Issac Luke. Photo / Getty Images
Leuluai celebrates the Kiwis 2008 World Cup final win over Australia with teammates Greg Eastwood, Benji Marshall and Issac Luke. Photo / Getty Images
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The former Mt Albert Grammar student has shown tremendous resilience to overcome a season-ending ACL injury that limited him to just 10 games last year. After returning in the round six defeat to Manly, he has quickly returned to top form and played a big part in the Warriors mid-season revival.

Playing alongside star playmaker Shaun Johnson, Leuluai offers contrasting skills that are no less important to the side's expansive attack and key to enabling and enhancing the No7's devastating running game.

Everything about the versatile Kiwis international's play is direct and physical. His ability to square-up the Warriors attack isolates defenders and helps provide Johnson with the time and space to operate at his best.

He might not feature on the highlights reels as frequently as his halves partner, but Leuluai's strength and dogged approach was typified when he muscled his way over to score a much-needed try in the second-half of last week's golden point defeat to Cronulla.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Similarly effective on defence, he is a rock on the Warriors left edge, while some of his best performances at club and test level have been closer around the ruck in the grittier No9 role.

His absence will be adequately filled with 21-year-old playmaker Tui Lolohea and 20-year-old hooker Nathaniel Roache set to enjoy increased roles in the coming seasons, and his calming presence and durability has no doubt assisted both player's footballing development and education.

A young Leuluai is tackled by Kangaroos forward Willie Mason during a 16-16 draw at North Harbour Stadium in 2004. Photo /  New Zealand Herald Dean Purcell
A young Leuluai is tackled by Kangaroos forward Willie Mason during a 16-16 draw at North Harbour Stadium in 2004. Photo / New Zealand Herald Dean Purcell

The arrival at the club this season of former South Sydney premiership winner Issac Luke ensures the Warriors have another seasoned campaigner to help steer the ship, but Leuluai's commitment and game management will be missed.

He will also be remembered as the second youngest NRL debutant in the Warriors' history, after making his debut against the Bulldogs six weeks shy of his 18th birthday in 2003.

Discover more

Warriors

NRL: Thomas Leuluai signs for Wigan

03 Jul 09:21 PM
Warriors

NRL lowdown: How the teams are faring after round 17

05 Jul 08:21 PM

Saturday's gritty 27-18 win over the Gold Coast was his 304th first-grade appearance overall following 189 games for Wigan from 2007-2012 and 38 for the London Broncos/Harlequins from 2005-2006.

Since debuting for the Kiwis in 2003, he has been a favourite of New Zealand coach Stephen Kearney, and the 2008 World Cup winner may get the chance to add to his 34 tests in the end of year Four Nations tournament in England.

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Warriors

Warriors

'Confident in his ability': Webster backs Boyd to fill Metcalf void

09 Jul 06:00 AM
Warriors

Tanah time: Boyd to make Warriors debut against Tigers

08 Jul 06:27 AM
Warriors

'One of the great games': Former Warrior and Queenslander's Origin prediction

07 Jul 02:01 AM

From early mornings to easy living

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Warriors

'Confident in his ability': Webster backs Boyd to fill Metcalf void

'Confident in his ability': Webster backs Boyd to fill Metcalf void

09 Jul 06:00 AM

Tanah Boyd will debut in the No 7 jersey against the Wests Tigers.

Tanah time: Boyd to make Warriors debut against Tigers

Tanah time: Boyd to make Warriors debut against Tigers

08 Jul 06:27 AM
'One of the great games': Former Warrior and Queenslander's Origin prediction

'One of the great games': Former Warrior and Queenslander's Origin prediction

07 Jul 02:01 AM
Warriors outclassed by Roosters in NRLW return

Warriors outclassed by Roosters in NRLW return

06 Jul 02:30 AM
Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP